Former UFC Flyweight contender Antonina Shevchenko has made the decision to retire from combat sports in order to focus on a new career path.
Antonina Shevchenko Trades In Gloves For Aircraft
Last seen competing at UFC on ESPN 39 in July of 2022, Antonina Shevchenko picked up the last victory of her UFC tenure with a split decision triumph over Cortney Casey.
In the nearly three years since then, the Kyrgyzstan native had remained entirely inactive, presumably preoccupied with helping her sister, Valentina Shevchenko, train for her trilogy with Alexa Grasso.
During that time stretch, however, “La Pantera” had begun to sink more time into her other passion in life: aviation. Taking to Instagram earlier Wednesday, Antonina Shevchenko announced her retirement from MMA to begin her new quest to become a full-time pilot.
Antonina Shevchenko Makes It Official on Social
“Dear friends! I didn’t have the opportunity to leave my gloves in the octagon by tradition, I didn’t think my fight in UFC in 2022 would be the last,” Antonina Shevchenko wrote. “I am leaving my gloves” in this post.”
“It’s time to be focused on the next page – my career as a pilot,” Antonina Shevchenko continued. “My heart and my head are completely filled with airplanes and sky and it’s hard to express how happy I am that aviation has come into my life! A professional fighter lives a full exciting life, filled with hard work, awards, travels, difficulties, victory celebrations, and it is hard to find another path you love that will be same intense and fulness, filled with action, constant learning, hard work and celebration of achievements. Aviation is this treasure for me!”
Antonina Shevchenko Leaves Behind Impeccable Legacy
Walking away from the sport at 40-years of age, Antonina Shevchenko has garnered a bevy of strong accomplishments across her time as a professional pugilist.
During her journey as a Muay Thai competitor, she racked up six gold medals, in addition to three different world titles, including the Lion Fight Lightweight Muay Thai World Championship, which she defended twice. She also collected three gold medals in Taekwondo as well.
Although not as storied as her kickboxing stint, her MMA run saw her reach all the way into the UFC’s 125-lb division with wins over Ji Yeon Kim, Lucie Pudilová and Ariane Lipski.
